Cabinet Office

Electoral Register: Young People

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the effectiveness of the school initiative in registering young people to vote in Northern Ireland.

Lord Bridges of Headley: The Government does not think there is compelling evidence of the effectiveness of the schools initiative. The most recent analysis by the Electoral Commission of the completeness and accuracy of the electoral registers in Northern Ireland (November 2012) and Great Britain (2014) suggests that 51% of 18-19 year olds in Northern Ireland were registered to vote, compared with 76.1% of 18-19 year olds in Great Britain.Electoral Registration Officers are best placed to determine what is appropriate or necessary in their area; many work with local schools and colleges to identify and register young people.